More cold weather, snow, wind to hit area

It might feel a little like deja vu – an unwelcome one – starting with this weekend as another cold snap is expected to grip the region, bringing with it high winds and blowing snow.

National Weather Service officials are calling for about 1 to 3 inches of snow tonight into Sunday and “dangerously cold” temperatures heading into the workweek. Blowing and drifting snow is the biggest concern today with reduced visibility and occasional near-white-out conditions expected.

Temperatures today are expected to plummet to 9 degrees by the early afternoon, with wind gusts as high as 35 mph. Overnight, the region was blanketed with another 1 to 3 inches of snow.

An additional 1 to 3 inches of snow is possible Saturday night. That, coupled with 35-mph wind gusts, could lead to reduced visibility and occasional near-white-out conditions in some areas Sunday through Monday.

Amy Seeley, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chicago, said while this cold snap is mild compared to the polar vortex that gripped the region earlier this year, she cautioned drivers to avoid travel when possible, plan for longer commutes and to use “common sense.”